Until the Tequila (The Killers #3.5)(10)

That earns her a small laugh. “Is your uncle a police officer, too?”

“Nope. But my dad sits on the city council so he can make sure no one builds a big-box store next to our property.”

“Interesting.”

“Trust me, it’s not. Who are you?”

“I’m Mary’s best friend, July.”

I lift my head up and frown. “Your name is July?”

“Yes, we’re a family of months. I don’t know how else to explain it other than my parents have their own brand of crazy and fly that flag proudly. It was nice chatting with you but I need to talk to Mary and I needed to do it hours ago.”

“I want to talk to her, too, but she needs the sleep. I’m not waking her.”

She sighs. “I don’t know why, but there’s something about you … even all the way from Tennessee, my gut tells me to trust you.”

“Your gut would be right. Maybe you and I should cut out the middleman and have a chat while my sleeping mermaid catches up on her beauty rest.”

She says nothing, but I hear her shifting the phone. Finally, she asks, “You’re a friend of Addy’s?”

“Yeah. A friend and an employee. It’s how I met Mary.”

July seems to be contemplating just how trustworthy I might be. “Mary loves Addy. I’m almost jealous because, even though Mary moved away years ago, I miss her.”

I cock my head and start putting things together. “You’re from Tennessee?”

“Yes. From the outskirts of Nashville. I met Mary through my sisters and even though I’m a little older, we were inseparable. She’s close with my whole family, but Mary and I are tight.”

“Last night Mary opened up about something from her past and I can tell she’s worried. You know anything about that?”

“Evan,” she calls for me even though I’m right here and she knows it. “You’re there and are able to watch out for her. I’m here and have all the information. I think we might need each other.”

I look to the closed bedroom door and wonder what the hell is going on with the sleeping woman behind it. I think I might’ve just found my in with Mary.

“Accidental allies,” I state. “Tell me what I need to know. I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to pave the road for her and me.”

Her tone turns sing-songy. “That’s so sweet. I can’t wait to tell her that.”

I think about this afternoon when I had her bared to me. “Trust me. She knows. Now, tell me everything.”

And Mary’s friend with the strange name proceeds to blow my mind.





7





Barrel-of-Monkeys Kind of Fun





Mary





I wake up in my own bed without a hangover.

Look at me, winning at life.

I am, however, still in the same clothes I wore last night. And next to me is my cell phone and a handwritten note folded into a tent on my pillow with my name scribbled across the front.

After I rub my eyes, I unfold it.

It’s six in the morning. Yeah, I stayed all night. I didn’t want to wake you and, for the second night in a row, I enjoyed watching you sleep. Call me creepy, I don’t give a shit. I learned a lot while you were snoozing away last night. I also drank all your Diet Coke and checked your schedule book. I know you work today, so I’ll be back tonight at seven. I’m bringing you a case of Diet Coke so you don’t fall asleep on me again. We’re going to talk about Tennessee, your fucking jackass of a father, and then you’re going to pack a bag because you’re not staying in your apartment any longer until we know where he is. You only have a double bed. I have a queen. I win.

By the way, you’re just as beautiful when you sleep as you are when you’re glaring at me and as you are when you’re naked and moaning for me.

Don’t make me wait.

Evan





One thing is certain—the man is verbose.

Another thing that is even more certain—I will not be in my apartment at seven o’clock.

And damn him for drinking all my Diet Coke!





Twelve hours have passed. The clock is hanging over my head like a ticking time bomb. I know Evan works in the tasting room until six every day and sometimes stays later.

I called July while my client’s highlights were processing and she spilled the beans about how she spilled all the beans to Evan while I slept. She told me the whole thing and showed no remorse because, in her words, “Your fucking father found out where you live. Some skank at the bar told Mic who told Harlen who called Wes right away and informed him that Duane Giesen jumped into a creaky old Chevy with rusted out bumpers and headed east.”

I told her I couldn’t believe my childhood friend betrayed me by spilling all my dirty laundry to a stranger, to which she replied, “I love Evan! I can’t wait to meet him. He made me promise that Wes and I would visit soon and he said he’d take care of our accommodations. I’m so mad that you didn’t tell me how amazing he is. I feel so much better after talking to him last night. I know he’s going to do everything he can to watch out for you.”

See? Total betrayal.

Then I got a call from Addy and, after she made an appointment for a Keratin treatment, she basically chewed my ass for holding out on her about my father looking for me. Of course, blabbermouth Evan told her everything. She’s so sweet, she actually made me feel bad that I hadn’t told her sooner. Before we hung up, I had apologized and promised that if I didn’t feel safe, I’d come and stay in her guestroom since she has about two million of them in her big-ass farmhouse.